You Are My Sunshine ↠ Niall Horan

[24] - Shannon

The authors note at the bottom is a tad important, nothing too big :)

S H A N N O N

You know how the feather feels so light and soft on your fingertips? Like the way the smooth edges would brush against your hand, and it's an instant comfort. Or how the leaves of autumn fall effortlessly by the sidewalk as it prepares itself for the cold weather. It feels so weightless.

That's how it feels to fall for someone you never thought you'd actually meet. In my case, Niall.

They say loving someone is not choosing to be with someone you want to live with; but someone you can't live without. I thought about the many times where I actually called Niall for a bit of comfort whenever I felt down. It's been two months since our unlikely friendship began. And I'd want nothing more than to relive each and every single memory in the period of time.

Except this one.

My knuckles turn white as I clench my comforter for dear life, trying my best to keep the tears at bay. I should have known Niall wouldn't of stuck around for long.

No one ever does.

This isn't anything new for me. I meet a guy, he's charming and seems like a real gentlemen but then someone else comes along. Someone prettier, skinnier, someone that's just better I suppose.

It's pathetic how I'm just lying here in bed trying my best not to cry about a some boy.

At least I didn't tell Niall everything. My secrets about my past, things he didn't need to know. My eyelids close and soon I'm drifting off into a restless sleep.

~

Another beer bottle hits the ground and shatters, leaving a trail of glass behind it. My brother, Hayden, swoops by with a dust pan and shovel to quickly clean it up. "Son," My father's deep voice rumbles, a bit groggy from the alcohol, "Why are you always cleaning? You should watch the football with me, be a man for once, not a housewife. Your sister can do that!" He scolds.

"Shannon's ten years old dad, I think it's best if I do it." Hayden answers.

"Well your mother should be home from work soon, just leave it there for her to do the job."

"It's alright dad, mum will be tired when she gets home. She'll like it if our house is clean when she gets home."

Dad leans over the arm of the chair and stares Hayden in the eyes, "Are you answering back?" He growls.

Hayden shakes his head and drops the dust pan and shovel from his hands. A look of uncertainty seeps through him, any normal thirteen year old would have been terrified, but not Hayden, he was used to it. Whereas I thought this was strange. My friends had fathers that bought ice cream, treated their daughter like a princess - loved their daughter.

Our father was quite built, could snap me in half within a second but I knew even though he had a short temper he wouldn't want to hurt me on purpose. 'It's just the alcohol'. I tell myself.

He's never hit me but I've seen him slap my mother a few times. I remember when I was at least five years old and my parents were so in love.

Mum didn't have to work, Dad used to play with me after he'd come home from his job. We'd get bed time stories and cuddles at night. But now I usually creep into my brothers room to be held in his arms while the screeching and fowl language never stops flowing from our parents mouths.

Mum always tried her best to support us and pay for extra things but having an abusive, alcoholic partner and two kids isn't exactly the best lifestyle. Sometimes we'd have only potato and rice for dinner just to help mum make ends meet.